Pages

Monday, 31 July 2017

Much more about today than Saturday, despite the conditions
being the same!

There were circa 4,500 Oystercatcher and 170 Curlew at the
edge of the tide South of Little Eye early morning, other waders included 12
Whimbrel, 13 Ringed Plover and a Grey Plover. It was lovely to see numbers of
Dunlin back feeding below the obs, 250 were counted.

A Manx Shearwater flew West close in to the North end, with
2 Gannet and 2 Great Crested Grebe also seen and 22 Shelduck flew South up the
estuary.

Sunday, 30 July 2017

Weather: WSW force 2/3
A small fall of 8 Willow Warblers this morning resulted in the first ringed this autumn.

Two Whitethroats were also present and 2 early passing Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail.
Two hundred Sandwich Terns were noted with 12 Whimbrel around the islands, also 3 summer plumaged Turnstones, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 12 Curlews.

Among the Small White butterflies flying was a Small Copper, a scarcer species at Hilbre.
Ringed: 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Robin [ 408-32 ]
photos AEH

Saturday, 29 July 2017

Young Meadow Pipits and Linnets are still much in evidence
around the island, but the only visiting passerines noted were 2 Willow
Warbler.

Sandwich Terns were low in number with only 40 counted, also
Cormorants with just 17 – 3 of them roosting on the Whaleback.

A juvenile Swallow had a brief recce around the inside of the obs.

Over 400 Dunlin were present, mainly at the edge of the tide
south of Middle Eye, other waders present in small numbers were Curlew,
Whimbrel, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and a single Bar Tailed Godwit showing
very red with the rising sun on it.

Tuesday, 25 July 2017

Weather:NW force 3
A single Arctic Skua was a scarce find this autumn so far. A Willow Warbler was on the island, while around the shore were 5 Whimbrel, 2 Little Egrets, and 1,200 Black-headed Gulls on the west hoyle bank.

Monday, 24 July 2017

Weather: NW force 4
An albino Sandwich Tern resting on the east hoyle bank could have caused confusion to some.
Ten Whimbrel, a Gannet and a Bar-tailed Godwit were also on the day list. Six Green-veined White Butterflies and a Comma (scarce at Hilbre) were noted today.

Sunday, 23 July 2017

Weather: WNW force 2/3
Two Eiders were noted on the sea, also 4 Gannets, 6 Little Terns and 54 Common Scoter, while 30 Swallows went through, a Willow Warbler and a Whitethroat were on the island, and there was a excellent count of 25 Whimbrel.

Wednesday, 19 July 2017

Weather: SE force 4
Two Black-tailed Skimmer dragonflies seen today were possibly the first ever at Hilbre as this species is mainly confined to southern Britain. Following the Emperor dragonfly yesterday there were 2 today. Also present were 27 Swallows.

Tuesday, 18 July 2017

Sandwich Terns were much in evidence as the tide ebbed this morning, 700 were gathered at several places between West Kirby marine lake and Middle Eye with about 40 Common Terns and about 1,000 Black-headed Gulls.

Initially it was thought there were no migrants and then the song of a Whitethroat came from one of the bungalow gardens, it later gave a song flight from the south end bracken. At least 10 Swallows flew around the island. Waders are more obvious now, 750 Dunlin fed in a flock on the west side between the islands and 25 Redshanks flew together at the north end, only 2 Whimbrel were noted but there may be more. A Hummingbird Hawk Moth was seen briefly at the Valerian flowers above Niffy bay and an Emperor Dragonfly was in the SK trap for a while (the first this year?).

Saturday, 15 July 2017

A members and guests get together took place over the tide to celebrate 60 years of Hilbre Bird Observatory. Birding seemed incidental today but the highlights were 2 Shoveler, 5 Eiders, 6 Whimbrel and a count of 162 Sandwich Terns on the east hoyle. A brood of Swallows have fledged from a nest in the old shed in the paddocks

Garden Tiger moth

An impromptu talk to members was given by Rod Philpott on the archaeological dig next to the obs that had yielded valuable evidence of viking era occupation.

There was the barbecue which was much enjoyed by all

and of Course..............................................

Special thanks must go to all who organised the event and in particular those involved in the preparation of food.
Ringed: 1 Linnet [ 402-32 ] Photographs by several members

Friday, 14 July 2017

Weather: N/NW force 3
Records on a quiet day included a Gannet, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 17 Common Scoter, 200 Sandwich and 20 Common Tern, also 2 Little Tern and an adult Kittiwake. A Peregrine was noted. Small White butterflies are in the majority at the moment with 12 seen today.

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

A brief visit in the evening recorded 60 Sandwich Terns, 12 Common Terns and 12 Curlew.
It was clear enough for the Lake District mountains (over 60 miles distant as the crow flies) to be seen beyond the wind turbines.

Monday, 10 July 2017

Another quiet day but a juvenile Peregrine flew past
observers on the East side of middle and landed briefly before flying towards
Red Rocks.

A Willow Warbler was in the obs garden for a short while but
was the only migrant passerine seen today. At least wader numbers are slowly
increasing with 22 Redshank, a Grey Plover, 2 Whimbrel and 5 Curlews

The
Oystercatcher roost on Middle numbered 200 with an additional 100 on Little
Eye.

A Male Common Scoter spent the tide just off the North end
of Middle and 3 Gannet were seen, 2 (an adult and a juvenile) past close in
down the West side of Hilbre.

Sunday, 9 July 2017

A breeze from the south first thing brought a surprise Willow Warbler to be noted passing Little Eye, and then mid-morning a first year Blackcap was caught for ringing, a species that has been particually scarce this year.
A large flock of Knot flew north flew out of the estuary at a time when most would be expected to be still at the breeding grounds.

Friday, 7 July 2017

An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach between the
marine lake and Little Eye, 3 Gannet were in the Swash as the tide came in,
singles of both Little Egret and Grey Heron were in the gutter below the obs.

Many juvenile birds were in evidence today with 2 young
Sandwich Terns noted amongst the small roost opposite the obs, a juv Wren in
the obs garden, at least 4 young Meadow Pipits, a single juv Pied Wagtail and a
family party of Linnets with the young practicing their flying skills.

Pied Wagtail

At about 1330 the first Chiffchaff of Autumn came down in
the obs garden, soon to be followed by a female Blackcap and a Whitethroat making a trio of autumn firsts, a
strange mini fall !

A fox was seen in the top paddock and it has been reported
that there are cubs on the island.